A plan to install parking meters in the downtown shopping and business district may be derailed by a citizens referendum to force commissioners to unanimously approve paid parking.The opponents want a charter amendment that would require a unanimous vote on pay-for-parking plans. To get the question on the ballot in March, the organizers must get at least 10 percent of the city's 14,295 registered voters to sign the petition.George Koch, one of the leaders of the petition drive, said the group obtained the necessary signatures at polling places during Tuesday's election.

On the day he finished his income taxes last month, Joseph Terranova wore a tie decorated with money and tax symbols.Terranova tie-watchers have been wondering whether he has a tie indicating he's the mayor-elect. He said he doesn't. But he has sport-On Tuesday, Terranova will be sworn in as the city's 48th mayor, succeeding Gary Brewer. Douglas Storer, elected March 25, also will be sworn in as commissioner to fill Terranova's unexpired term in Seat 4.While Terranova's predecessor has more time in political office than anyone in the city's history, Terranova got into politics late in life.

Although it appears metered parking has been erased from a downtown enhancement plan, opponents to paid parking are still pursuing a permanent end to it.Fear that the metered parking plan will resurface has kept opponents going, said George Koch, a Park Avenue employee and member of a group formed to oppose the plan.''Everyone is saying it's over, but we want to make sure it is,'' he said.A petition drive was still under way last week calling for a referendum to amend the charter. If voters approve, the charter amendment will require a unanimous commission vote on any metered parking proposal.

Although it appears metered parking has been erased from a downtown enhancement plan, opponents to paid parking are still pursuing a permanent end to it.Fear that the metered parking plan will resurface has kept opponents going, said George Koch, a Park Avenue employee and member of a group formed to oppose the plan.''Everyone is saying it's over, but we want to make sure it is,'' he said.A petition drive was still under way last week calling for a referendum to amend the charter. If voters approve, the charter amendment would require a unanimous commission vote on any metered parking proposal.

Two charter amendments on paid parking are going to appear on the ballot March 25, and a lot of folks are wondering whether that is going to confuse voters.At a special meeting Monday, city commissioners agreed in a 3-2 vote to put a charter amendment question on the ballot that would call for only a simple majority to approve an ordinance for any paid parking proposal.However, there already is a charter amendment question about paid parking on the ballot. That question, prompted by residents opposed to metered parking, would call for a unanimous commission vote on an ordinance for paid parking plans.

A plan to install parking meters in the downtown shopping and business district may be derailed by a citizens referendum to force commissioners to unanimously approve paid parking.The opponents want a charter amendment that would require a unanimous vote on pay-for-parking plans. To get the question on the ballot in March, the organizers must get at least 10 percent of the city's 14,295 registered voters to sign the petition.George Koch, one of the leaders of the petition drive, said the group obtained the necessary signatures at polling places during Tuesday's election.

After listening to more than two hours of debate about parking in the city's downtown shopping district, city commissioners Thursday night approved the concept of metered parking.The vote does not mean the city will install paid parking meters on Park Avenue anytime soon.It does give staff members the go-ahead to develop more details about the plan, which is tied to the city's long-range effort to improve its signature street.The notion of paid parking was suggested by staff and advisory committees as a way to better manage the scarce downtown parking and to generate a source of money to pay for improvements such as wider sidewalks, bricking the avenue, better signs, landscaping and so on.It is unclear when a final decision will be made.

Call it a user fee or a revenue stream.Or just call it paid parking.City officials will discuss ''the P words'' - long a source of contention for area merchants - at a work session at 4 p.m. Monday. They'll consider a meter system that several advisory committees studying the issue have agreed on.Most committee members have agreed that the system used at Orlando's Church Street Station, known as Smart Park, is best for Winter Park. The computerized system would require 15 meter boxes in the downtown area along Park Avenue and side streets.

Winter Park voters will go to the polls Tuesday to choose a new commissioner for Seat 4 in the nonpartisan race.Douglas Storer and Stockton Reeves are vying for the seat vacated by Joseph Terranova, who slid into the mayor's post without opposition. Voters also will decide whether they want to amend the charter in one of two ways that will affect whether paid parking is adopted in the city.The first amendment question calls for a unanimous commission vote on any paid-parking proposal. The second calls for a simple majority vote on an ordinance for metered parking.

Paid parking in the downtown district is the focus of two questions on the ballot Tuesday in an unusual and confusing vote to change the Winter Park charter.One question asks whether voters want an amendment that would require a unanimous commission vote on any pay-for-parking proposal.The second asks whether voters want an amendment requiring a simple majority vote on an ordinance for paid parking downtown.The differences are slight but significant. The first has the unprecedented requirement for a unanimous vote.

Winter Park voters in the March 25 general election will consider two proposed charter amendments on paid parking.The amendments - which stem from opposition to the idea of putting parking meters along Park Avenue - are no-brainers.There's no need for the amendments and no reason to clutter the charter with them.Paid parking was proposed as a way to manage downtown parking and raise money for various improvements. However, critics said charging for parking would keep shoppers and other visitors away from the avenue.

Two charter amendments on paid parking are going to appear on the ballot March 25, and a lot of folks are wondering whether that is going to confuse voters.At a special meeting Monday, city commissioners agreed in a 3-2 vote to put a charter amendment question on the ballot that would call for only a simple majority to approve an ordinance for any paid parking proposal.However, there already is a charter amendment question about paid parking on the ballot. That question, prompted by residents opposed to metered parking, would call for a unanimous commission vote on an ordinance for paid parking plans.

Although it appears metered parking has been erased from a downtown enhancement plan, opponents to paid parking are still pursuing a permanent end to it.Fear that the metered parking plan will resurface has kept opponents going, said George Koch, a Park Avenue employee and member of a group formed to oppose the plan.''Everyone is saying it's over, but we want to make sure it is,'' he said.A petition drive was still under way last week calling for a referendum to amend the charter. If voters approve, the charter amendment will require a unanimous commission vote on any metered parking proposal.

Although it appears metered parking has been erased from a downtown enhancement plan, opponents to paid parking are still pursuing a permanent end to it.Fear that the metered parking plan will resurface has kept opponents going, said George Koch, a Park Avenue employee and member of a group formed to oppose the plan.''Everyone is saying it's over, but we want to make sure it is,'' he said.A petition drive was still under way last week calling for a referendum to amend the charter. If voters approve, the charter amendment would require a unanimous commission vote on any metered parking proposal.

A discussion on a proposal to install parking meters in the city's shopping and business district will be held at 7 p.m. today at City Hall, 401 S. Park Ave.City commissioners will review the proposal and hear the public's comments. Tom Ware, a city official from Aspen, Colo., will be on hand to talk about that city's controversial transition from free to paid parking.City staff and downtown advisory committees have suggested paid parking as a way to manage the scarce downtown parking better and to raise revenue to pay for improvements.

Winter Park voters will go to the polls Tuesday to choose a new commissioner for Seat 4 in the nonpartisan race.Douglas Storer and Stockton Reeves are vying for the seat vacated by Joseph Terranova, who slid into the mayor's post without opposition. Voters also will decide whether they want to amend the charter in one of two ways that will affect whether paid parking is adopted in the city.The first amendment question calls for a unanimous commission vote on any paid-parking proposal. The second calls for a simple majority vote on an ordinance for metered parking.

In an effort to appease opponents of the pay-for-parking proposal, city commissioners have agreed to wait three months before adopting any plan.Opponents are gathering signatures calling for a referendum on a city charter amendment that would require a unanimous vote on any paid parking plan.Such an amendment, opponents say, would make the city thoroughly air any plan to install meters in the downtown business and shopping district.City officials say they will use the hiatus to discuss alternatives and perhaps to find another way to address the opponents' concerns without the charter amendment.

A plan to install parking meters in the downtown shopping and business district may be derailed by a citizens referendum to force commissioners to unanimously approve paid parking.The opponents want a charter amendment that would require a unanimous vote on pay-for-parking plans. To get the question on the ballot in March, the organizers must get at least 10 percent of the city's 14,295 registered voters to sign the petition.George Koch, one of the leaders of the petition drive, said the group obtained the necessary signatures at polling places during Tuesday's election.